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Most of us are familiar with the phrase, “Time heals.” And in many cases, there is some truth to it. Even after very difficult experiences, we are often able, little by little, to return to everyday life. The past cannot be changed, and memories may stay with us for a long time, but the mind gradually adapts to what has happened. Yet this is not always the case. The 2001 film K-PAX tells the story of one such unusual situation. What happens when we are unable to come to terms with what has happened? Why does the mind sometimes try to escape reality rather than face it directly? Let’s explore these questions through one of cinema’s most unusual psychological stories...

Imagine two people saying the same phrase: “I’m glad to see you.” One says it with a smile, looks you in the eye, and sounds genuinely pleased. The other says exactly the same words in a flat voice, barely looking up from their phone. Formally, both have said the same thing, yet one is easy to believe while the other may leave us wondering how sincere they really are. Why does this happen? Because during a conversation we perceive much more than the meaning of words alone. We notice intonation and facial expressions, follow someone’s gaze, gestures, posture and movements, and even pay attention to the distance they try to maintain from the person they are speaking to. All of these signals are generally referred to as nonverbal communication. Can a person’s behavior really tell us what they are thinking and feeling?...

Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, is one of the best-known and at the same time most controversial approaches associated with psychology. The term is familiar even to people who have little interest in psychology. Some have encountered it in self-help books, others in negotiation and sales training, and still others in stories about “hidden influence” over other people. Over several decades, NLP grew from an unusual idea developed by a small group of researchers into an entire industry of books, courses, and seminars. Attitudes toward it remain divided: some see it as a useful collection of practical tools, while others are highly skeptical. To understand why NLP became so popular — and why it has generated so much controversy — it is worth looking at where it came from and what its creators were trying to offer...